Napoli Snatch Late Draw as Billing’s Heroics Deny Inter Crucial Win

The 2024/25 Serie A season has been a rollercoaster ride, with several teams jostling for the Scudetto. But as the campaign progressed, three clear title contenders emerged: Inter Milan, Napoli, and Atalanta. With only a single point separating Inter at the top from second-placed Napoli, this fixture had the makings of a season-defining clash. The iconic Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was the battleground, where Antonio Conte’s Napoli sought to leapfrog Simone Inzaghi’s Inter in the standings.

Despite the daunting away trip, Inter stepped onto the pitch exuding confidence and wasted no time making their presence felt. The early stages of the match saw the visitors asking questions of Napoli’s defense, particularly through their marauding wing-backs. In the 20th minute, a flashpoint arose when Denzel Dumfries collided with Scott McTominay inside the box. Inter players immediately surrounded the referee, fervently appealing for a penalty, but their cries fell on deaf ears as the official waved play on. 

However, just two minutes later, Inter found the breakthrough. Federico Dimarco turned into a match-winner momentarily with a stunning free-kick. Curling the ball into the top-left corner beyond a despairing Alex Meret. Napoli’s response was spirited. Romelu Lukaku, determined to drag his team back into contention, had a golden chance in the 34th minute. Latching onto a beautifully lofted pass from McTominay, the Belgian striker found himself in a tight angle, but his shot could only find the side netting. The hosts continued to push forward, enjoying the lion’s share of possession, but Inter’s defensive discipline saw them head into halftime with their slender advantage intact. Interestingly, despite Napoli’s dominance, the first-half xG numbers told a different story: 0.6 for the hosts compared to Inter’s 0.3. 

The second half started on a sour note for Inzaghi’s men. Their first-half hero Dimarco was forced off in the 51st minute due to an injury. As if that weren’t enough, Hakan Çalhanoğlu also picked up a knock just before the break and was also substituted in the 51st minute. Inzaghi turned to Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zieliński as replacements. Napoli, sensing an opportunity, intensified their attacking efforts. Their best chance yet came in the 64th minute when McTominay unleashed a thunderous strike from distance. The effort seemed destined to ripple the net, but Inter’s backup goalkeeper, Josep Martínez, produced a brilliant save to deny the Scotsman. It was a let-off for Inter, who were increasingly being pinned back in their own half. 

As the clock ticked down, Napoli’s title hopes seemed to be slipping away. A four-point gap between them and Inter loomed, and frustration grew among the Partenopei faithful. But then, in the 87th minute, an unlikely hero emerged. Phillip Billing, who had been introduced just eight minutes earlier, delivered the moment Napoli had been desperately searching for. Stanislav Lobotka spotted a gap in Inter’s defense and threaded a perfect through ball. Billing, racing onto it, found himself one-on-one with Martínez. His initial shot was parried by the keeper, but fortune favored the midfielder as the rebound landed at his feet. With composure, Billing poked the ball home, sending the Maradona Stadium into raptures. 

Inter had little time to muster a response, and despite their early control, they were left to rue their inability to put the game to bed. The final whistle confirmed a 1-1 draw – an outcome that keeps the title race razor-thin. With 27 games played, Inter remain at the top with 58 points, holding onto their narrow one-point lead over Napoli, while Atalanta lurk just three points behind in third. This pulsating encounter may not have produced a winner, but it served as another reminder that this Serie A title race is set to go down to the wire.